Adapting a Low-Cost and Open-Source Commercial Pipetting Robot for Nanoliter Liquid Handling.

Journal: SLAS technology
Published Date: Nov 19, 2020

Abstract

Low-volume liquid handling capabilities in bioanalytical workflows can dramatically improve sample processing efficiency and reduce reagent costs, yet many commercial nanoliter liquid handlers cost tens of thousands of dollars or more. We have successfully adapted a low-cost and open-source commercial pipetting robot, the Opentrons OT-1, to accurately aspirate and dispense nanoliter volumes. Based on fluorescence measurements, the modified OT-1 was able to reproducibly transfer 50 nL of water with less than 3% measurement error and 5% coefficient of variation (CV). For 15 nL transfers, the volume measurements indicated less than 4% error and 4% CV. We applied this platform to the preparation of low-nanogram proteomic samples for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, demonstrating that the modified OT-1 is an effective platform for nanoliter liquid handling. At a total materials cost of less than $6000, including the commercial liquid handler and all modifications, this system is also far less expensive than other platforms with similar capabilities, placing automated nanoliter handling within reach of a far broader scientific community.

Authors

  • E Enoch A W Councill
    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
  • Nathanial B Axtell
    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
  • Thy Truong
    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
  • Yiran Liang
    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
  • Adam L Aposhian
    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
  • Kei G I Webber
    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
  • Ying Zhu
    China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China.
  • Yongzheng Cong
    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
  • Richard H Carson
    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
  • Ryan T Kelly
    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.

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